№. ， | " . A . . . D 1.2:IR 1/7 Iraq has been given an opportunity for a sovereign and stable future. The tools are at hand: a proficient and growing foundation for security, a government that is answerable to the people and their representatives, and an economy capable of fueling growth. This opportunity has come at great cost and sacrifice, both by the people of Iraq and all who have served here. Through that sacrifice, a door once locked has been opened for the Iraqi people to step through and join the free, self-reliant communities of the world. This opportunity through sacrifice must not be squandered. This book represents the last eight years of effort in Iraq by American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and coalition partners who have made this sacrifice. This historical volume is not meant to document every event that has taken place over the years, but to highlight the service and sacrifice of our military and coalition partners who have created opportunities for the Iraqi people. The nature of our relationship with the Iraqi people has changed as we moved from a military-led relationship to a comprehensive partnership that encompasses not only security, but also includes commerce, culture, education and economics. It is the same partnership we share with all nations governed by principles of freedom, who respect the rights of their citizens, and who ensure the benefits of this freedom by all. This is the future we desire with Iraq. It is a future of mutual respect and mutual benefit. us DFPOSITORY 004 (4/7. .2%, III SEP 1 4 201? UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNA General, United States Army BERKELFY Commander, United States Forces-Iraq * * TABLE OF CONTENTS (by Campaign Names and Dates) Liberation of Iraq - - 3 March 19 - May 1, 2003 Transition of Iraq º 21 May 2, 2003 - June 28, 2004 Iraqi Governance º 45 June 29, 2004 - Dec. 15, 2005 National Resolution 63 Dec. 16, 2005 - Jan. 9, 2007 º Iraqi Surge 75 - Jan. 10, 2007 - Dec. 31, 2008 º Iraqi Sovereignty 113 Jan. 1, 2009 - Aug. 31, 2010 New Dawn 143 Sept. 1, 2010 - Dec. 31, 2011 72 C 7 Kurdish Massacres Genocide II * i. ºil. º ºl. "Highway of Dea hº Operation Des - - º º s | º -- ert Storm º OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM ºf 3 - OPERATION NEW D w/ EY'ſ] Weapons of Mass Destruction 76. Terror UN Inspectors OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 At war with Iraq ...}. citizens, at this hour American and coaſition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.” President George W. Bush March 19, 2003/10:15pm EST OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATHON NEW DAWN 2011 º ployment ſº ſº. A. Preparing for de º PERMIT'PE. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) Coalition Forces Land Component Command was established under Lt. Gen. David McKiernan, commander of U.S. Army Forces Central Command, to direct the two U.S. corps-sized formations (I Marine Expeditionary Force and V Corps) involved in the initial liberation of Iraq in March 2003. The term coalition, or sometimes ‘combined,’ denotes the involvement of armed services from different countries. CFLCC is a multi-national land force, usually operating as part of a U.S. combatant command, though it could theoretically be applied by other western and U.S. allied nations. From March until June 2003, CFLCC was joined by 1st Armored Division, 4th Infantry Division, and 2nd and 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiments. CFLCC was replaced by Combined Joint Task Force 7 on June 14, 2003 under Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez. After its replacement by CJTF-7 as the operational headquarters for all ground units in the CENTCOM theater, CFLCC became the primary logistics hub for the theater. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 March 20, 2003 - U.S. launches Operation Iraqi Freedom with a "decapitation attack," the initial air strike of the war attempting to target Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi leaders in Baghdad. The U.S. launches a second round of air strikes against Baghdad and ground troops enter the country for the first time, crossing into southern Iraq from Kuwait. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld claims that the initial phase of the war is mild compared to what is to come: “What will follow will not be a repeat of any other conflict. It will be of a force and a scope and a scale that has been beyond what we have seen before." The campaign publicized as an overwhelming barrage meant to instill "shock and awe" was in actuality more restrained. º º.º. 6 ERATAH"E.R. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 7 Coalition of Liberators The number of U.S. service members in the initial phase of the war was approximately 150,000. e e º ºs ZD E 82nd 4th 1 Marine 1 Marine 2 Marine V Corps 3rd Exp. Division Exp. Infantry 101st Airborne Infantry Special Force Brigade Division Airborne Division Division Operations Division Command The United Kingdom contributed 2,000 members of its forces to the U.S.-led liberation of Iraq. A. Sº ſh 1st 7th 16th Air 3rd Armored Armored Assault Commando Division Brigade Brigade Brigade Australia provided Navy ships, special forces soldiers, and various aircraft, to include fighter planes. # * @ U Royal Royal 4th Special Australian Australian Battalion Air Air Force Navy - - Aviation Royal Service Australian Regiment Poland sent 200 troops from the primary special forces unit of their armed forces, forming the third largest coalition contribution to the Iraq liberation effort. GROM - Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-Manewrowego (Operational Mobile Reaction Group) Kurdish fighters (Peshmerga) fought with coalition forces during the Liberation of Iraq, driving against Iraqi forces from the north. (2) º Kurdish Patriotic Democratic Union of Party Kurdistan 8 Aſh. OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - _ - ， ， ， *RATIONº Wºoom 2003-diburº Ew DAWN 2011 U.S. Marines from Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Twentynine Palms, Calif., cover each other with M16A2 assault rifles, as they prepare to enter one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in Baghdad. Her Majesty's Australian Ship Anzac, of the Royal Australian Navy, fires its five-inch (127-mm) gun after a call for fire support from the ground during hostilities with Iraq. º - - Nº º º | - | | - - . s |->|-> *Aº Engineering Aide 1st Class Scott Lyerla, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1-5, maintains security for his convoy with an M-60 machine gun while driving through Al Hillah, Iraq. 10 OPERATION | \, \! [RIF DOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Royal Australian Air Force technicians and the F/A-18 contingent which forms part of Operation Falconer, the Australian contribution to the coalition to remove weapons of mass destruction from Iraq. Two Airmen, from among nearly 100 experts with the Combined Weapons Effectiveness Assessment Team, assess the damage from a precision-guided munition at one of Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces. The team visited sites to determine how well coalition weapons achieved their intended effects. British forces in an FV107 Scimitar of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T) vehicle family are on the move, displaying the Union Jack. OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 11 tan-a-rº Marine Expeditiºnary Fºe stºrine Division Sº Lº 2- Nº Is Armoured Division (UK ºdºmoted ſºlº Z Edlifantry Division 3d Amated (avalry º 4th Infantry Division ; 5th, 10thºpedº foſtes Group. 4| Bºdºbone Division º Olstºne Division RANº. º º 75th * Regiment Battle Road to the Fall of Baghdad... The Battle of Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation in the Iraq War. One of the first objectives, the port of Umm Qasr, was captured by coalition forces on March 21, 2003. The assault on the port was spearheaded by Royal Marines of the British 3 Commando Brigade, and supplemented by U.S. Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Polish special forces troops. On March 25, 2003, the A Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams battle tank fires its 120mm main port was declared safe and gun during fighting between insurgents and coalition forces reopened. near Umm Qasr, Iraq. Sº- Members of the Polish Special Operations Forces Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno Mobilnego, or Operational Mobile Response Group, secure a section of the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq. The GROM participated in the efforts of coalition naval forces to clear southern Iraqi waterways of mines and - ºgue vessels to make way for the arrival of humanitarian relief shipments. - - - - O P E} RA T ON IRAQI FREEDOM 0003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 13 Battle of Nasiriyah - Heavy fighting took place in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah between Iraqi forces and U.S. Marines over control of key bridges over the Euphrates River and the Saddam Canal. Early on March 23, 2003, the 507th Maintenance Company, based at Fort Bliss, Texas, took a wrong turn into the city and was ambushed. Eleven soldiers were killed and six soldiers were captured. The remaining able-bodied 507th members protected the wounded and fought off Iraqi attacks. They were rescued and evacuated from the area by the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade enroute to the battle. The Marine unit, under the call sign USMC amphibious assault vehicle destroyed near Nasiriyah, Iraq. Task Force Tarawa, continued north into the city seizing two major bridges along what was known as “Ambush Alley.” Eighteen Marines were killed in what has been described as one of the bloodiest days of operations for Marines. Shoshana - Jessica Lynch (in still frame from - Johnson combat camera video footage of rescue) º On April 1, 2003, U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force launched a nighttime raid on the Saddam Hospital in Nasiriyah, successfully retrieving Pfc. Jessica Lynch and the bodies of eight other American soldiers. This was reported to be the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II, and the first ever of a woman. Other historical firsts were experienced by two other female Soldiers in the maintenance company. Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, became the first woman (of the U.S.-led coalition) killed in the Iraq War and the first Native American woman killed on foreign soil in an American war. Spc. Shoshana Johnson, who was captured in the same ambush as Lynch and later rescued, became the first African American female prisoner of war in the military history of the U.S. 14 OPT RATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Destroyed Iraqi T-72 tank on Highway 9 outside Najaf Battle of Najaf. U.S. airborne and armored units with British air support fought a fierce battle with Iraqi regulars, Republican Guard units, and paramilitary forces. After 36 hours of combat at the bridge at Najaf, the Iraqis were defeated and the key bridge was secured isolating Najaf from the north. After several days of heavy fighting and with air support, coalition forces were able to defeat the Iraqi forces slowly securing the city by April 4, 2003. Battle of Karbala: The Karbala Gap is an approximately 25-mile wide strip of land with the Euphrates River to the east and Lake Razazah to the west. This strip of land was recognized by Iraqi commanders as a key approach to Baghdad, and was defended by some of the best units of the Iraqi Republican Guard. U.S. troops rushed through the gap and reached the Euphrates River at the town of Musayib, April 2, 2003. They crossed the river and seized the vital al-Kaed Bridge after Iraqi demolitions teams had failed to destroy it in time. On April 5, 2003, the 101st Airborne began its push to clear Karbala with airstrikes hitting several targets around the city. This was followed by a helicopter assault in which 23 UH-60 Blackhawk and 5 CH-47 Chinook helicopters ferried three battalions of infantry from the 502nd Infantry Regiment to their designated landing zones. \, \, OPERATION IRAQ, FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 15 ** * --- Paul Ray Smith - Medal of Honor Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith (September 24, 1969 – April 4, 2003) Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving with Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. On April 4, 2003, while working near the Baghdad International Airport, his team was attacked by a company-sized group of Iraqi fighters. Smith distinguished himself by rescuing three wounded Soldiers while holding off the enemy attack, before being killed in the firefight. For his actions he was recommended for the Medal of Honor. Two years later his medal, along with the newly approved Medal of Honor flag, was presented to Smith's family at a White House ceremony hosted by President George W. Bush. Smith is buried in Arlington National Cemetery (section D, lot 67). He is survived by his wife Birgit, son David, and stepdaughter Jessica. Accepting the award from President Bush were Smith's daughter Jessica, his widow Birgit and his son David. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the United States Congress on members of the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.” 16 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Three weeks into the war, U.S.-led coalition forces moved into Baghdad after armored units south of the city destroyed most of the Republican Guard's assets and occupied routes in the area. On April 5, 2003, Task Force 1-64 Armor of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade, executed a raid, later called the "Thunder Run," to test remaining Iraqi defenses. - Battle of Debecka Pass - On April 6, 2003, U.S. Army special forces launched a successful operation to secure Debecka Pass (sometimes known as the Battle of Debecka Ridge or Debecka Crossroads), a strategically important junction between Mosul and Kirkuk, near the village of Debecka. This battle was notable for its use of the FGM-148 Javelin. The fire- and-forget missile, with lock-on before launch and automatic self- guidance options, demonstrated the lethal and crucial aspects of technology in determining the outcome of conflicts. An outnumbered light U.S. and Peshmerga force defeated Iraqi mechanized infantry and tanks with a combination of air-to-ground strikes, superior maneuvering, and the use of the Javelin missiles. U.S. Soldiers fire a lº anti-tank missile in Iraq. - - - - - - - - - 18 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF-7) April 2004 Force Laydown I Corps @ 1st Infantry 1st Cav |S 1st Ad A I MEF © Pol”- UK Div ;: --~ Islamic REPUBLIQ or IRAN Though originally overseen by the commander of ARCENT, once Coalition Joint Task Force 7 replaced CFLCC (June 14, 2003), it began reporting directly to the CENTCOM combatant commander, Lt. Gen. William S. Wallace, V Corps commanding general, who initially took over until he was replaced by Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez in July 2003. CJTF-7 had operational control of all forces within Iraq, including multi-national forces of service members from England, Spain, Australia and other countries. The deactivation of CJTF-7 came just 11 months after its creation. CJTF-7 conducted offensive operations to neutralize and secure the area for the establishment of government for the Coalition Provisional Authority. CJTF-7 was also responsible for organizing, training and certifying the Iraqi armed forces. With more than 130,000 troops from more than 36 countries around the world, CJTF-7 had led an international effort in Iraq. 22 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division and U.S. special forces (Task Force 20) watch as a TOW missile strikes the side of a house occupied by U and Qusay pºſſ Hussein in Mosul, July 22, 3. ------- -- - - Following the announcement that Saddam Hussein's two sons were killed in a firefight with U.S. troops in Iraq, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan issued the following statement: "We were pſeased to ſearn from the Tepartment of Tefense of today's action against Ulday and Qusay 3 ſussein. Over the period of many years, these two individuals were responsible for countſess atrocities committed against the Iraqi people and they can no ſonger cast a shadow of hate on Iraq. U.S. military forces and our intelligence community, working with an Iraqi citizen, deserve credit for today's successfuſ action. While there is still much work to do in Iraq, the Iraqi people can see progress each day toward a 6etter and more prosperous future for their country.” 24 OPERATION | RAO | | | | | DU) NA 2003 () ["I RATION N F \ |\ A\VN 2011 - : New Iraqi Army's First Graduation º: al Authority. A Allawi, review the first battalion of New Iraqi Army soldiers in Kirkush, Iraq, during their graduation ceremony at the Iraqi army training center, Oct. 4, 2003. Bremer and Iraqi Governing Cºun iſ President, Dr. Ayad º Following the liberation of Iraq and the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the decision was made to establish a professional Iraqi army. This New Iraqi Army, as it was initially known, would replace the old regime with a professional force for maintaining peace and stability. Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 22, Creation of a New Iraqi Army, dated Aug. 7, 2003, established a military force for the national self-defense of a future, free Iraq. The U.S. administration in Iraq envisioned the new army to be purely for defense and wholly separate from the civil police force, unlike during the Hussein regime. The NLA was rebuilt along U.S. lines and tasked with responsibility for all Iraqi land-based military operations. The Coalition Military Assistance Training Team was set up by the U.S. military under the Office of Security Transition - Iraq, commanded by Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton. Its mission was to train and develop the new army. The first battalion of NLA recruits graduated on Oct. 4, 2003, after a nine-week course at a training base in Kirkush. In June 2004, the OST-I was dissolved - its responsibilities were passed on to the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 25 Multi-National Division - Baghdad Multi-National Division- Baghdad is also known as Task Force Baghdad. The division's area of responsibility was the city of Baghdad. Between 2003 and 2010, MND-B was headquartered by 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, and 4th Infantry Division. 1st Armored º “Old Ironsides- 2003-2004 26 OPERATION | R & O FRſ box. 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Multi-National Division - Central South Multi-National Division-Central South, created in September 2003 and supported by NATO, was a part of the Multi-National Force Iraq. Headquartered in Camp Echo, it was under Polish-led command until October 2008 when the last of Poland's troops were withdrawn. The Polish contingent was its largest. Other participants included Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Romania, El Salvador, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine and the United States of America. As of December 2008, Armenian, Bosnian, Danish, Latvian, Kazakh, Lithuanian, Mongolian, Spanish and Slovakian forces had been fully withdrawn. The South Central zone, formerly the Upper South zone, also known as the Polish zone, covered the area south of Baghdad: Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Karbala Governorate, Babil Governorate and the Wasit Governorate, all of which had been transferred to the Iraqi government. The region has a population of about 5 million. Major cities in the area include Diwaniyah, Kut, Hillah, and Karbala and Najaf. In October 2008, MND-CS was disestablished and its area absorbed by Multi-National Division - Center. 28 __ OPERATION | \, , R1 || ONA 2003 OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 | Romania Lithuania Multi-National Division - North º º --------- —sº, - º - 'A - D - - º 0 OO O OO OOZ - º - sº - –º - - - - - - º Task Force Olympia - - 2004-2005 - º º __ º º - º - O O º O) : 3. OOO-200 - º --- - º % - Z ſ". ſ *: - - - - s 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - R */ A ſº “Black Horse Regiment” * In º 2005 Bºº [. º - 30 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Multi-National Division - North was responsible for the 47,000 square-mile region from north of Baghdad to the Syrian, Turkish and Iranian borders. This area included the six provinces of Diyala, Salahuddin, Ninewah, Sulimaniyah, Dohuk and Kirkuk. Units under MND-N conducted combat operations against insurgents, trained and equipped almost 50,000 Iraqi soldiers and police, and upgraded the operational capability of the Iraqi army. They also implemented reconstruction projects that included building Schools, medical facilities, water and Sewage projects, and increasing oil pipeline capacity. The combat aviation brigades assigned to MND-N logged countless flying hours transporting troops and cargo on tens of thousands of missions. 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles” 20 O5-2006 1st Armored Division 25th Infantry Division “Tropic Lightning" 2008-2009 – “Old Ironsides” 2007–2008 OPERATION IRACI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATICN NEW DAWN 2011 31 Multi-National Division - North Central 42nd Infant ivision Multi-National Division-North Central conducted “Rainbow Division” stability operations while transitioning responsibility for 2005 counterinsurgency operations to Iraqi security forces and provincial and local governments throughout the Salah al Din Province. The province is north of Baghdad and covers most of what is known as the “Sunni Triangle.” The MND-NC area of operations extended more than 150 miles along the Main Supply Route Tampa (also known as Highway 1) and the Tigris River and included the population centers of Bayji, Tikrit, Samarra and Balad. | | 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles 2005-2006 Band of Brothers | A Mſ. A 32 Aº. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Multi-National Division - West - - - "T " | º " Nº T … º Between April 2003 and March º: 2004, three major commands had #º a significant presence in Al Anbar Province. It was the largest single º operational area of any unit in Iraq - | covering one third of the country. 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was tasked to perform an economy of | force mission to secure and stabilize the region in mid-April 2003. During the summer of 2003, after making the much publicized “Thunder Run” into downtown Baghdad, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Jºzº Division, was redeployed to Fallujah. Their mission included training the Fallujah Police Department to operate on its own, and letting the local population know they were there to help. In September 2003, The 82nd Airborne Division took responsibility for the Al Anbar area, under its new designation, Multi-National Division – West. Their three-pronged mission was to eliminate threats from former regime elements, extremists, foreign fighters and criminals throughout the area of operations; create jobs to employ military-age males in productive employment; and make the vast amounts of leftover weapons and ammunition from Saddam's military machine unavailable to the enemy. On March 14, 2004, authority for MND-W was officially transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. In the months that followed, the Al Anbar area of operations was redesignated as Multi-National Force – West. | 3rd Infantry Division Rock of the Marine 82nd Airborne Division “All American” 2003-2004 | OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 33 Multi-National Division º º South East - Multi-National Division - Southeast, a subordinate of MNC-I, was commanded by the United Kingdom and responsible for security in the southeast of Iraq from 2003 to 2009. It made its headquarters at Basra Airport and was initially responsible for the city of Basra, as well as the governorates of Al Muthanna, Maysan, and Dhi Qar. IFº º In aftermath of the 2003 liberation of Iraq, codename ‘Operation Telic' = 2. by the British, the U.K's 1st Armoured Division and 3rd Mechanised | \l Division were successively responsible for the command and control of º- - - the occupation forces in southeast Iraq. After 3rd Mechanised Division's tour of duty came to an end, it was replaced by the composite headquarters of MND-SE. Since then the division was made up primarily of British units with other nations in support. In the months following the end of the liberation, MND-SE expanded to include Italian, Japanese, | Australian, Romanian, Danish, Portuguese, Czech and Lithuanian troops. On March 31, 2009, when MND-SE was disestablished, it was the last of the non-US subordinate commands. Its area of operations was merged with that of Multi-National Division - Center and renamed Multi-National Division - South. t WS wº- iſºsºsºls ſŠy. | | Czech Republic Lithuania -- - OPERATION | FAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 3S * rº Wºr- Saddam Hussein's found on surfaces throughout Al Faw Palace. Cult of personality - usually associated with dictatorships, arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods to create an idealized and heroic public image. Over the course of Saddam Hussein's reign, thousands of portraits, posters, statues and murals were erected in his honor all over Iraq. His face could be seen on the sides of office buildings, schools, airports, and shops, as well as on Iraqi currency. Very few images remain intact today. ...in Baghdad beside the twin-decked July 14 Bridge across the Tigris River ..from the parapet of Al Salaam Presidential Palace in Baghdad 36 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - º “3ſe was a tired man, and aſso a man resigned to his fate.” Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez Commander, CJTF-7 Acting on intelligence garnered from the questioning of Saddam Hussein's former bodyguards and family members, Operation Red Dawn was conducted on Dec. 13, 2003 in the town of ad-Dawr, Iraq, near the former leader's hometown of Tikrit. The mission to capture the deposed Iraqi president was given to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, commanded by Maj. Gen Raymond T. Odierno and led by Col. James Hickey. Hussein was found at the bottom of a narrow, dark hole beneath a two-room mud shack on a sheep farm. Only a styrofoam square, dirt and a rug covering the “spider hole” entrance to his hiding place separated Hussein from the U.S. forces. Despite having weapons in his possession, he offered no resistance and was initially described as being talkative and cooperative. After a physical examination which included taking DNA samples to verify his identity, Hussein's beard was shaved - revealing a more familiar image. OPERATION IRACI FREEDOMA 2003 – Off RATION NEW DAWN 2011 37 Operation Vigilant Resolve On March 31, 2004, four Blackwater private military contractors were guarding food shipments for a U.S. base on the outskirts of Fallujah when they took a wrong turn and entered the city. They were killed by machine gun fire and a grenade thrown through a window of their SUV. A mob then set their bodies ablaze, and their corpses were dragged through the streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates. Photos of the event were released to news agencies worldwide, causing outrage in the United States, and prompting the announcement of a campaign to re-establish American control over the city. First Battle of Fallujah In response to the killings and intense political pressure, the U.S. Marines commenced the First Battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve. They surrounded the city with the intent of capturing the individuals responsible for the killings, as well as others in the region who might have been involved in the insurgency or terrorist activities. Heavy fighting lasted until April 9, 2004, when, again under enormous public pressure, the unsuccessful offensive was called off because of great civilian losses. At that point, the Marines had only managed to gain control of a fraction of the city. 38 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 The 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, use tactical vehicles to secure part of Highway 1 in Fallujah, and cut off traffic to the city in an attempt to isolate and root out terrorist forces responsible for recent attacks on coalition forces. Twenty-seven American servicemen were killed in and around Fallujah during the battle, as well as hundreds of Iraqis, both civilians and insurgents. Many of the Iraqis killed were buried inside the city's former football stadium, which became known as the Martyrs' Cemetery. The 1st Marine Regiment in position during the battle. Fº - - Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, peer over a building top to fix in enemy targets in Al Fallujah, Iraq April 7, 2004. OPERATION | || "...Y FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 39 Jason L. Dunham - Medal of Honor Cpl. Jason Lee Dunham (November 10, 1981 – April 22, 2004) On April 14, 2004, Cpl. Dunham of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, was on a reconnaissance misssion in Karabilah, Iraq. He and his squad heard gunfire a short distance from their location, and were proceeding on foot when an insurgent leapt from his car and attacked Dunham. A scuffle ensued as two Marines approached to help, Dunham reportedly shouted his last words, “No, No. Watch his hands.” When the insurgent dropped a grenade, Dunham deliberately threw himself upon it, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion. The blast knocked out and seriously wounded all 3 Marines. Eight days later, Dunham died at Bethesda Naval Hospital from wounds he received in the incident. He was 22. Dunham is survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister. Dunham shared his Nov. 10 birthday with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Dunham has also received other honors, including being the namesake of a United States Navy destroyer, a post office, and Marine Corps barracks. 40 - OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 I President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to Cpl. Dunham's family during a White House ceremony Jan. 11, 2007. "By his selflessness, Cpl. Dunham Saved the lives of two of his men, and showed the world what it means to be a Marine," ! said Bush. tºº JASON L. Sgt. Mark Dean (right), one of Dunham's close friends, and Maj. Trent A. Gibson, Dunham's former company commander, sort through the pieces of the Kevlar helmet Dunham used to help absorb the blast of the grenade that mortally wounded him. The pair delivered the helmet to the National Museum of the Marine Corps to be preserved and displayed. L Cpl. Dunham's dress blue uniform is displayed on the quarterdeck of the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). |ll T The Navy's newest guided-missile EL"º destroyer was commissioned at #: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Nº. " November 13, 2010. OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 41 On April 30, 2004, the U.S. military made public photographs depicting prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison by Army personnel. Physical, psychological, and sexual abuse including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison were alleged. Service members were shown systematically abusing detainees using a variety of unauthorized interrogation techniques. | One prisoner died after being interrogated and tortured by a CIA agent and private contactor using physical violence and strappado hanging, whereby the victim is hung from the wrists with the hands tied behind the back. Seventeen Soldiers and officers were removed from duty. Eleven were charged with dereliction of duty, maltreatment, aggravated assault and battery. Between May 2004 and March 2006, the 11, including eight from the 372nd Military Police Company, were found guilty in courts martial, sentenced to military prison and dishonorably discharged. One member of the 372nd was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for exposing the abuse. Coalition Provisional Authority - L. Paul Bremer (second from left) and four members of the Iraqi Governing Council. On June 28, 2004, L. Paul Bremer, U.S. presidential envoy to Iraq and administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, officially handed over sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government. The CPA was established as a transitional government following the liberation of Iraq by the U.S. and its allies (members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq), which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein. Citing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483, and the laws of war, the CPA vested itself with executive, legislative, and judicial authority over the Iraqi government from the period of the CPA's inception on April 21, 2003, until its dissolution. 42 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I) Combined Joint Task Force - 7 was redesignated as Multi-National Force - Iraq, May 15, 2004, under the command of Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez. Multi-National Corps - Iraq, commanded by Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz, was established as a subordinate headquarters. MNF-I and MNC-I were created by essentially splitting the staff of CJTF-7. The intent was to stand up a strategic-level headquarters to support the June 28 handover of authority to the Iraqi interim government. MNF-I, a four-star multi-national command, was established to handle strategic level issues while MNC-I, a three-star headquarters, directed the tactical battle. Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. succeeded Sanchez as MNF-I commanding general on July 1, 2004. The changes were made amid concerns that the headquarters CJTF-7 was not sufficient to handle the range of military operations in Iraq including peace support, civil military operations, and at the same time conduct strategic engagements such as talking to the sheiks and political authorities. Those are typically functions that are performed by two different headquarters. MNF-I objectives were outlined by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in a letter to the UN Security Council: “The MNF under unified command is prepared to continue to contribute to the maintenance of security in Iraq, including by preventing and deterring terrorism and protecting the territory of Iraq. The goal of the MNF will be to help the Iraqi people to complete the political transition and will permit the United Nations and the international community to work to facilitate Iraq's reconstruction.” OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPFRATION NEW DAWN 2011 43 Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) On June 28, 2004, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq was activated with Lt. Gen. David H. Petreaus in command. MNSTC-I, the successor to the Office of Security Transition under the Coalition Provisional Office, assumed responsibility for training, mentoring, and equipping the Iraqi security forces. The goal was to allow the Iraqi security forces to increasingly assume responsibility for population protection and to develop Iraqi security institutions capable of sustaining security with reduced coalition involvement. The three main sections of MNSTC-I were the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, or CPATT, which organized, trained, and equipped the Iraqi police; the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, or CMATT, which organized, trained, and equipped the Iraqi army; and the Joint Headquarters Advisory Support Team, which assisted the joint headquarters of the Iraqi army in developing a command and control system. The JHQAST also assisted in operational planning and gave strategic advice to the Iraqi government. The commander of MNSTC-I was “dual-hatted” as the commander of NATO Training Mission - Iraq. The NTM-I was established at the request of the Iraqi interim government to assist in the development of Iraqi security forces training structures and institutions so that Iraq could build an effective and sustainable capability that addressed the needs of the nation. 44 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 46 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Operation Phantom Fury ..." U.S. Marines fight in the city of Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury Operation A Fair In November 2004. The Second Battle of Fallujah — code-named Operation Al-Fajr (Arabic for “the dawn") and Operation Phantom Fury — was a U.S.-Iraqi-British offensive that took place in November and A U.S. Army M-109A6 Howitzer sends a December 2004. - round down range during combat operations Operation Phantom Fury was the bloodiest battle - in Fallujah. of the Iraq War. It was led by the U.S. Marine Corps against the Iraqi insurgency stronghold in the city of Fallujah and was authorized by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi interim government. In the months since the first Fallujah battle, Operation Vigilant Resolve, insurgent strength and control grew exponentially. A senior U.S. official said that catching Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, said to be in Fallujah, was now “the highest priority,” and estimated his troops at 5,000 men of mostly non-Iraqis. The six battalions of Army, Marine and Iraqi forces, moving under the cover of darkness, began the assault in the early hours of Nov. 8, 2004, prepared by an intense artillery barrage and air attack. Most of the fighting subsided by Nov. 16, 2004, Marines continued to face determined, isolated - resistance from insurgents hidden throughout the city. Sporadic fighting continued until Dec. 23, 2004, when the last pockets of resistance were neutralized. 48 Open ATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 A U.S. Marine Corps M-198 155mm Howitzer gun crew of 4th Battalion, 14th Marines, Mike Battery, - Gun 4, at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, engages enemy ** = targets in support of Operation Phantom Fury. º - - A confirmed insurgent stronghold goes up in smoke after a strategic aerial strike during Operation Al Fajr, ==º an offensive meant to eradicate enemy insurgents - in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. . Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division prepare to enter and clear a building during fighting in Fallujah, November 2004. OPE: , TiON IRAQI FREEDO 1.4 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAY,'N 2011 49 2004 Coalition Force Departures ICELAND TROOPS: 3 DEPLOYED: May 2003 DEPARTED: August 2004 SPAIN - TROOPS: 1300 | DEPLOYED: |April 2003 DEPARTED: April 2004 - NEW ZEALAND TROOPS: 61 DEPLOYED: |September 2003 DEPARTED: tº September 2004 PHILIPPINES TROOPS: 51 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: July 2004 NICARAGUA TROOPS: 230 DEPLOYED: September 2003 DEPARTED: February 2004 THAILAND TROOPS: 423 DEPLOYED: August 2003 DEPARTED: September 2004 50 OPF RATION N E V DAVA/N 2011 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC º TROOPS: 302 DEPLOYED: August 2003 DEPARTED: May 2004 HUNGARY TROOPS: 300 DEPLOYED: August 2003 DEPARTED: December 2004 Cº - eſcºekaTION IRAQI FREEDsºo3 - OPERAEKāāºw DAWDAVAſ. On Jan. 30, 2005, Iraq held the Iraq Elections : Phas € 1 first competitive election in 50 years. A total of 8.5 million people voted - about 58% of those Iraqis eligible to do so. Violence accompanied the voting, with 260 attacks taking place on election day - the most since the start of the war. The United Iraq Alliance, a coalition of Shiites, received 48% of the vote and Kurdish parties received 26%. Due to a boycott called by Sunni leaders, the Sunnis garnered only 2% of the vote. The newly elected transitional assembly was given a mandate to write the new and permanent constitution of Iraq and exercised legislative functions until the new constitution came into effect, and resulted in the formation of the Iraqi Transitional Government. Iraqi National Assembly Kurdish Alliance (Kurdish) Ayad Allawi (Shiite) Iraqis Party Other (Sunni) An Iraqi citizen shows proof of his voting in Balad, Iraq. United Iraqi Alliance (Shiite) A ban on driving cars is no deterrent to hundreds of residents of the Al Mansour district of Baghdad, Iraq, as they walk along a freeway to head to the polls to cast their ballots during the first free Iraqi election, Jan. 30, 2005. Millions of Iraqis throughout the country are participating in Iraq's first free election ** 50 years. S2 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - --- Feb. 12, 2005 - Multi-National Force - Iraq High Mobility issues an order prohibiting unarmored U.S. Multipurpose military tactical vehicles from operation off Wheeled Vehicle foward operating bases. (HUMMWV or º - Humvee) ºr - | PORTUGAL TROOPS: 128 DEPLOYED: November 2003 DEPARTED: February 2005 NETHERLAND - TROOPS: 1345 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: March 2005 S4 OPERATION | RAO | H R1 ||YOM 2003 - ODI RATION NEW DAWN 2011 ~ Nº. On Feb. 17, 2007, Nein received the Distinguished Service Cross from Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. Leigh Ann Hester - Silver Star Twº Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester As a member of the 617th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit out of Richmond, Ky., Hester became the first female soldier to receive the Silver Star for exceptional valor since World War II and the first ever to receive the medal for direct actions against an enemy force. On March 20, 2005, the 617th MP Co. was following a supply convoy near the town of Salman Pak, Iraq, when they were ambushed by insurgents. The squad quickly moved into position, cutting off the enemy's escape route. Hester led her team through a “killzone" and into a flanking position, and then began an assault on a trench line. Hester and her squad leader, Staff Sgt. Timothy F. Nein, successfully assaulted and cleared two trenches. When the battle was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one captured. For their actions, Hester, Nein and Spc. Jason Mike, a medic with the unit, were awarded the Silver Star. Nein's award was later upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. º - º - soldiers from the 617th MP Co. eceiving the Silver Star medal were | (Itor). Staff Sgt. Timothy F. Neim from Henryville, Ind., Sgt. Leigh Ann | Hester from Bowling Green, Ky., and Spc. Jason Mike from Radcliff, Ky. Receiving the Bronze Star medal was Spc. Casey Cooper from Princeton, Ky., who was also awarded the Purple Heart medal for injuries sustained during the attack. The Army Commendation medal was awarded to Sgt. Dustin Morris from Murray, Ky., and Spc. Jesse - Ordunez from Marshall County, Ky. Spc. Ashley Pullen and Spc. william Haynes II were also awarded Bronze Star medals, but were unable to attend the ceremony. - - OPERATION IRAQI FRE W DAWN 2011 SS EDOM 2003 – OPERA* April, 22, 2005 - Police Partnership Program Implementation started with a goal of building up the capacity of Iraqi police service. An Iraqi police officer reassures a young child during a search for terrorists in east Baghdad during operations involving U.S. Soldiers and the Iraqi police. Demonstrating their partnership, Iraq. police officers and U.S. Soldiers work together searching for illegal weapons and terrorists in east Baghdad. S6 tº dº|Ol. operation ºn Fººtnom 2003 operation New Dawn 2011 Spc. Nicole Renfro of the 940th Military Police Co., instructs local Iraqi women on the fundamental operations of a handgun. This type of training is provided to help develop the female integration into the Iraqi police forces, providing the unique services needed for crimes against women and children. Iraqi children study grammar as members of the 155th Brigade Combat Team from Tupelo, Miss., deliver school supplies to Al Mutnba Primary school located near Camp Kalsu. The plan included connecting them - with a U.S. school to help with supplies _l and start a pen pal program. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafaari address members of the press about the improvements and new plansfor deployed service members and the Iraqi people at the Iraqi government building in the International Zone of Baghdad, Iraq. Rice made a surprise visit to service members and civilians in Iraq, May 15, 2005. The one-day trip was her first visit to Iraq as the top diplomat in the U.S. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NFV DAWN 201 57 Coalition forces participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom peaked at more than 40 nations. 58 oro (u OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Olo O. - As coalition forces respond to a car bombing in south Baghdad, Iraq, a second one is detonated, targeting those responding to the initial incident. The attack, aimed at the Iraqi police force, resulted in 18 casualties, two of whom were police officers. On June 3, 2005, it was reported that May 2005 was estimated to have had the highest number of incidents involving vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices or VBIEDs. There were 142 attacks in a 32-day period. VBIEDs are improvised explosive devices placed in cars or other vehicles and then detonated. They are commonly used as weapons of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare to kill the occupants of the vehicles and people near the blast sites, or to damage buildings or other property. VBIEDs act as their own delivery mechanisms and can carry relatively large amount of explosives without attracting suspicion. They can be activated in various ways from manually operating the vehicle's mechanisms to using remote detonations. U.S. Army Humvee burns after a VBED attack in Baghdad, Iraq. New Iraqi Constitution Ratified The national assembly elected in January 2005, drafted a new constitution to be ratified in a national referendum on Oct. 15, 2005. For ratification, the constitution required a majority national vote, but could be blocked by a two-thirds “no” vote in at least three of the 18 provinces. In the actual vote, 79% of the voters voted in favor, and there was a two-thirds “no" vote in only two mostly Sunni Arab governates. Despite their substantially greater turnout than for the January elections, the Sunnis were unable to garner a third province to defeat the constitution. Elections were held under the new constitution on Dec. 15, 2005 for a new Iraqi national assembly. TTT ºr. ..º. ~ry Fº - - *- r-rr Irºn *- º- ------------------- º ºn 3 × 23-tº-º-º-º: 32 gºa sº-sº sº; sº sº; * , ;… tsya ºle & 5 º' A yes-or-no ballot from the Kurdish Military Training Base asks voters “Do you agree with the new constitution?" At a Baghdad polling station, an Iraqi soldier keeps a watchful eye out for suspicious activity while his comrade searches voters in the background, Oct. 15, 2005. Trial Of Saddam Hussein On Oct. 19, 2005, the trial of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein began. The Iraqi Special Tribunal, consisting of five Iraqi judges, had been created to try Hussein and his aides for charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. In his defense, Saddam asserted that he had been unlawfully overthrown and was still the president of Iraq. Hussein was found guilty on charges of crimes against humanity. On Nov. 5, 2006, he was sentenced to death by hanging. He appealed, but on Dec. 26, the appeal was rejected and the death sentence upheld. "I don't answer this so-called court, with aſ due respect. And I reserve my constitutionaſ right as the president of the country of Iraq, I will not go àſong... I don't acknowledge either the entity that authorizes you, nor the aggression because everything based on faſsehood is faſsehood..." Saddam Hussein Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein sits before an Iraqi judge at a courthouse in Baghdad, Iraq, where he has his initial interview to inform him of his charges and legal rights. OPERATION | R AOI FREEDOM 2003 - C)PERATION NEW DAWN 2011 61 Iraq. Elections: Phase2 =: ; D Iraqi Accord Front 44. D Iraqi National List 25 December 15, 2005 _ Iraqi National Dialogue Front tº [ ] Kurdistan Islamic Union 5 other 9. United Iraqi Alliance Following the ratification of the constitution of Iraq on Oct. 15, 2005, a general election was held on Dec. 15, to elect a permanent 275-member Iraqi council of representatives. Turnout was high, at 79.6 percent. The elections took place under a list system - voters aqi National Dialog chose from a list of parties and coalitions. Eighteen Iraqi governorates divided 230 seats based on the number of registered voters in each as of the January 2005 elections, including 59 seats for Baghdad Governorate. After six months of negotiations a “government of national unity” was agreed on between the various parties, Jalal Talabani, President of - Tariq Al-Hashimi, Vice President Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister under the leadership of Prime Patriotic Uniºn of Kurdistan q º Iraqi Accºrd Front of Iraq, United in Alliance Minister Nouri al-Maliki. A group of Iraqi citizens show their purple fingers, signifying they voted in their country's first parliamentary election. 62 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 On Jan.29, 2006, while embedded with the 4th Infantry Division, Bob Woodruff and Canadian cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously injured in an improvised explosive device incident near Taji, Iraq, north of Baghdad. At the time of the attack, they were travelling in an Iraqi MT-LB and wearing body armor and protective helmets. Woodruff sustained shrapnel wounds; Vogt was struck by shrapnel in the head and suffered a broken shoulder. At the U.S. Air Force hospital south of Balad, a joint Army and Air Force neurosurgical team performed surgery on both men for head injuries. Tom Brokaw reported on the Today show that a portion of Woodruff's skull - had to be removed to reduce the damage from brain swelling. Woodruff and Vogt were evacuated to the U.S. Army Medical Command hospital at Landstuhl, Germany. After leaving Germany, Woodruff was treated for weeks at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., where he was kept in a medically induced coma for 36 days to assist his recovery. Woodruff returned to Iraq in July 2009 to visit the Soldiers with whom he was traveling at the time of his injury. May 20, 2006 The first permanent government of Iraq since 2003 takes office when the Council of Representatives approves Prime Minister al-Maliki's cabinet - ending the Iraqi Transitional Government. º inside of the Baghdad Conventiºn Center, meeting place of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. 64 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 MNF-I reports that July 2006 had the highest number of total casualties on record. Civilians accounted for 74% of all casualties. | OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 raqi Ground orces Command | | On the Sep. 7, 2006, Multi- National Force – Iraq commander, Gen. George Casey, officiated the stand-up ceremony of the Iraqi Ground Forces Command. The IGFC serves as the operational fighting headquarters for the Iraqi army and is the equivalent to a U.S. corps-level command center. The IGFC's mission is to exercise command and control of assigned Iraqi army forces and, upon assuming operational control of Iraqi army formations, to plan and direct operations to defeat the terrorist and insurgent threat | i and preserve Iraq as a sovereign, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, democratic nation. takes a pen from top U.S. commander in The Joint Headquarters Advisory Iraq, Gen. George Casey, after signing Support Team, a subordinate element a document which put the Iraqi prime of MNSTC-I, was tasked to mentor and minister in direct control of the country's assist the IGFC in becoming capable of military, at a ceremony, in Baghdad, Iraq, exercising effective national command Sept. 7, 2006. Coalition forces handed over and control of the Iraqi armed control of Iraq's armed forces command forces, contributing to the capability to the government, a move U.S. officials development process, and contributing have hailed as a crucial milestone on the to improving the internal security country's difficult road to independence. situation within Iraq in partnership with coalition forces. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 67 Michael Monsoor - Medal of Honor Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor (April 5, 1981 – September 29, 2006) On September 29, 2006 an insurgent threw a grenade onto a rooftop where Monsoor and several other members of his SEAL Team 3 and some Iraqi soldiers were positioned. Of the three SEALs on that rooftop corner, he had the only avenue of escape away from the blast, and if he had so chosen, he could have easily escaped. Instead, Monsoor chose to protect his comrades by sacrificing his own life. Monsoor quickly smothered the grenade with his body, absorbing the resulting explosion and saving his comrades from serious injury or death. He died 30 minutes later from serious wounds caused by the grenade explosion. Monsoor is survived by his parents, two brothers, a sister, nieces and nephews. Monsoor became the fourth American service member and second Navy SEAL — killed in the line of duty — to receive the United States' highest military award during the War on Terror. He was also awarded the Silver Star for his actions on May 9, 2006, when he ran into a street while under continuous insurgent gunfire to rescue an injured comrade. 68 - OPERATION | RAOI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 L George and Sally Monsoor look at the Medal of Honor presented to them in honor of their son by President George W. Bush, April 8, 2008, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Monsoor and members of his SEAL team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In October 2008, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced that the second ship in the Zumwalt- class of destroyers would be named USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) in honor of Petty Officer Monsoor. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 69 JAPAN TROOPS: 600 DEPLOYED: January 2004 DEPARTED: July 2006 NORWAY TROOPS: 150 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: August 2006 ITALY TROOPS: 3200 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: November 2006 OPERATION IRAOI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 71 Ross A. McGinnis - Medal of Honor Spc. Ross Andrew McGinnis (June 14, 1987 – December 4, 2006) McGinnis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd “Dagger" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. On Dec. 4, 2006, while on mounted patrol in Adhamiyah, a grenade was thrown into his vehicle. McGinnis alerted the other four passengers and could have jumped out of the gunner's hatch - but chose not to. Instead, he threw himself over the grenade, absorbing the bulk of the blast. McGinnis saved the lives of his friends, and sacrificed his own life in the process. McGinnis is buried in Arlington National Cemetery (section 60, lot 8544). He is survived by his parents and two sisters. -º-º-º- *** - McGinnis knew he wanted to be a Soldier at a very young age. In kindergarten, he drew an “Army man" when asked to show what he wanted to be when he grew up. In addition to the Medal of Honor he also received a posthumous promotion to specialist, and earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. 72 OPERATION | RAOI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 President George W. Bush leads the applause in honor of McGinnis, after presenting the Medal of Honor to his parents, Tom and Romayne McGinnis, of Knox, Penn., during ceremonies, June 2, 2008, at the White House. While at Arlington Cemetery to remarks on Nov. 11, 2009, President Barack Obama leaves a presidential coin at McGinnis's gravesite. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 73 Execution Of Saddam Hussein The execution of Saddam Hussein took place on Dec. 30, 2006. He was sentenced to death by hanging, after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi Special Tribunal for the murder of 148 Iraqi Shi'ite in the town of Dujail in 1982, in retaliation for an assassination attempt against him. The execution took place at the joint Iraqi- American military base Camp Justice, located in Kadhimiya, a north-eastern suburb of Baghdad. Camp Justice was previously used by Saddam as his military intelligence headquarters, then known as Camp Banzai, where Iraqi civilians were taken to be tortured and executed on the same gallows. Saddam's body was buried in his birthplace of Al-Awja in Tikrit, Iraq, near family members, including his two sons Uday and Qusay Hussein, W On Dec. 31, 2006. SADDAM HUSAYNAL-T President This video image, released by Iraqi state television, shows guards wearing ski masks placing a noose around Saddam Hussein's neck moments before his execution. Clutching a Quran and refusing a hood, Hussein went to the gallows before sunrise, Dec. 30, 2006. A mourner is provided assistance when he is emotionally overcome at the grave of Saddam Hussein. - C- 74 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 -ſ'|- |- ſ'， №. }， |× |- │ │ │ │ │ │ |M（） |-}ſae . | |-| | This new security plan involved three basic parts: clear, control and retain. U.S. Soldier checks a seized - CLEAR out extremist elements neighborhood by weapons cache in March 2007. neighborhood - CONTROL by maintaining a full-time presence on the streets by building and maintaining joint security stations throughout the city. - RETAIN -- when the Iraqi security forces arefully responsible for the day-to-day security mission, coalition forces begin to move out of the neighborhood and into locations where they can respond to requests for assistance as needed. During these three phrases, efforts spearheaded by neighborhood advisory councils, district advisory councils and the government of Iraq, were ongoing. The goal was to stimulate local economies by creati employment opportunities, initiating reconstructio projects and improving the infrastructure. ng n º - U.S. Soldiers fro ompany C, 5th Battalion, 20th Inf - Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, take cover during a firefight with insurgents in the A Doura- section of Baghdad March 7, 2007. -- * OPERATION IDJOC, FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - - - º e first shipments of MRAP vehicles arrived at Camp Liberty in western Baghdad and were fielded to units which operated in areas with the highest threat levels. In the spring of 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made the acquisition of Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles the Department of Defense's highest priority. Prompted by U.S. deaths in Iraq, MRAPs - a design of armored fighting vehicles, initially caught the attention the U.S. Marine Corps. They were subsequently used by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and special operations forces in Iraq with the goal of surviving IED attacks and ambushes. Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, then commander of Multi-National Division - Central in Baghdad, told USA Today the 14-ton MRAPs have forced insurgents to build bigger, more sophisticated bombs to knock out the vehicles. Those bombs take more time and resources to build and set up, which gives U.S. forces a better chance of catching the - insurgents in the act and then attacking them. U.S. military has ordered the production of about 10,000 MRAPs at a cost of over $500,000 each. N This MRAP Cougar was hit in Al Anbar, Iraq by a directed-charge IED approximately 300-500 |bs in size. All crew members survived the blast. - º -- º Tºº - º - - __ - OPFRATION IRAQI FR OM 2003 ODI RAI ION NEW DAWN 2011 81 - - The Surge increased the number | K | of U.S. Army brigades in Iraq from ſ A s 15 to 20. Most of the 150,000 Army º | personnel also had their 12-month tours extended to 15 months. Additionally, 4,000 Marines had their 7-month tours extended by 45 to 90 days. In mid-June 2007, with the full deployment of 28,000 additional U.S. troops, major counter- insurgency efforts got under way. | Operation Phantom Thunder was launched throughout Iraq with a number of subordinate operations targeting insurgents in Diyala Province, Anbar Province and the southern Baghdad belts. 82 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - 83 Operation || Phantom Thunder A cloud of Smoke and dust envelopes U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Mullahy seconds after he fired an AT-4 rocket launcher at an insurgent position during a firefight in Baghdad's Adhamiyah neighborhood On June 16, 2007, Multi-National Force - Iraq launched major offensive operations against al-Qaeda and other extremist terrorists operating throughout Iraq. Under Operation Phantom Thunder, a corps-level operation, simultaneous clearing operations were executed in Diyala Province, Babil Province, Baghdad, Anbar Province, and actions were taken against the Mahdi army in southern Iraq. Phantom Thunder was one of the biggest military operations in Iraq since the 2003 liberation and took advantage of the additional “Surge” troops to open the concerted attacks. • 20 BrigadeſRegimental Combat Teams | Marine Expeditionary Unit • 4 Combat Aviation Brigades • Marine Air Wing (Forward) --~~ - 382 ſ - * . - º º ºa osman. S 3rl º lº . º ºg Biz, Z o - [15] - - -- - } n Naiafú 3. i - º J na) Q), RA Amaara * - º `-- Diwaniyah º `..." º 26 Combat Bns º in MND-Baghdad | 84 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 | Operation Marne Torch began On June 16, 2007, conducted by MND-C (25oo coalition and Iraqi forces) -to clear elements of the al-Qaeda in Iraq from the agricultural areas along the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, particularly in the Arab Jabour region - cleared 1,152 structures, killed 83 insurgents and detained 278, - found 51 weapons caches, destroyed 51 boats and entered 872 citizens into the biometric identification system Operation Arrowhead Ripper began on June 18, 2007, conducted by MND-N (nearly 10,000 U.S. and Iraqi troops) - to clear al-Qaeda from Baqubah, and secure the city - defeated al-Qaeda in Baqubah; killed al-Qaeda emir of Baqubah and more than 100 other insurgents, detained 424 suspected insurgents, captured or destroyed 129 weapons caches, and found and reduced 250 improvised explosive devices, including 38 house-borne IEDs and 12 vehicle-borne IEDS OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERAT |ON NEW DAWN 2011 Operation Commando Eagle began on June 21, 2007, conducted by MND-C (coalition and Iraqi forces) - to curb terrorist activity southwest of Baghdad through a mix of helicopter-borne air assaults and Humvee-mounted ground movements - detained more than 30 suspected insurgents and seized multiple large caches of weapons and bomb-making materials Operation Alljah began in June 2007; conducted by MNF-W (coalition forces - mainly U.S. Marines) - to secure the neighborhoods of Fallujah while targeting insurgents in the nearbytown of Karma - attacked insurgent supply lines and weapons caches; killed a known Libyan al-Qaeda fighter, six al-Qaeda members, five suspected insurgents, a senior al-Qaeda leader, and an al-Qaeda in Iraq battalion commander On Aug. 14, 2007, Marines in Fallujah formally handed over full responsibility for the security of Fallujah to local police. On the same day the overall operation, Phantom Thunder, ended. - - - 86 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 On the evening of Aug. 27, 2007, fighting erupted near the Imam Ali shrine in Karbala between members of the Jaysh al Mehdi (the militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr) and the shrine guards affiliated with the Badr Organization (a group of Iraqi security forces that supported Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki). The streets were filled with pilgrims celebrating the Shi'a festival of Shabaniyah near the shrine. As the fighting escalated and continued into the next day, these worshipers were caught up in the machine gun, mortar, and grenade fire. More than 50 civilians were killed and hundreds wounded in the firefight. The next day, Sadr issued a A poster of Muqtada al Sadr in a window of an statement declaring a six-month Iraqi electric plant building in Sadr City, Iraq. suspension of all militia activities. The statement also included a ban on attacking coalition forces. On Sept. 10, 2007, Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multi-National Force - Iraq commander, told members of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees that “the military objectives of “The Surge' are, in large measure, being met.” During his highly anticipated testimony, he also said the number of troops in Iraq could be reduced from 20 brigades to 15, or from 16O,OOO troops to 130,000, beginning in July 2OO8. Petraeus rejected suggestions that the U.S. shift from a counterinsurgency operation to training Iraqi forces and fighting terrorists. Instead, he said, the U.S. must continue all three missions. Sept. 25, 2007 USCENTCOM reports a six-month low on attacks against coalition forces. Oct. 1, 2007 USCENTCOM initiates the reposturing of forces in Iraq from 20 to 15 brigades starting in Dec. 2007 and finishing in July 2008. Oct. 22, 2007 USCENTCOM announces troop buildup in Iraq at 179,867. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION N F W DAWN 201 | 87 2007 Coalition Force Withdrawals DENMARK TROOPS.: 454 DEPLOYED: April 2003 WITHDRAWN: December 2007 SLOVAKLA TROOPS: 110 DEPLOYED: August 2003 WITHDRAWN: December 2007 88 OPERATION | RAO | REEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 U.S. and Iraqi Forces of Freedom OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERATION NEW ºws, 201 Multi-National Division – South East commander Maj. Gen. Graham Binns and Basra Provincial Gov. Muhammad Al-Wa'il sign a memorandum of understanding, formally marking the handover of control of the Basra Province, Dec. 16, 2007. In January 2008, the Doura Market in Baghdad's Rashid district, one of the city's most dangerous areas, was considered revitalized. Since June 2007, the number of new shops increased from 15 to 451. — OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 "As violence has come down in the ſast few months and stayed down, we're now seeing a poſitical environment develop in which the kinds º; romises, the kinds of tradeoffs across the sectarian and ethnic divides that were unthinkable when you were here a...'. CldO Clre 110 W 110t only possible but, as we saw yesterday, achievable.” Ryan Crocker U.S. Ambassador to Iraq on progress in Iraq Feb. 14, 2008 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Iraq on March 4, 2008, made him the first Iranian president to do so since the Iran/Iraq War in the 1980s. Ahmadinejad called for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraqi soil, stating that U.S. presence was the root of Iraq's instability and violence. March 19, 2008 On the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, President George W. Bush, speaking before troops, officers and defense officials at the Pentagon, acknowledged that the costs of the war, in lives and money, had been higher and longer-lasting than he had anticipated. But he §. his insistence that the liberation of Iraq, had made the world better and the United States safer. “Five years into this 6attle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it,” he said. “The answers are clear to me. Temoving Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight that America can and must win.” OPERATION | RAOI FRF | ID ( ) Nº. 2003 - O PERATION N F W DAWN 2011 91 Operation Charge of the Knights The Battle of Basra began in late March 2008. The operation, called Saulat al-Fursan (Charge of the Knights), was a significant event in the Iraq campaign. It was designed to push Maqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi army out of Basra, the third largest city in Iraq. It was the first major operation planned and executed by the Iraqi security forces. The outcome of the operation was initially in question, but with the assistance of U.S. forces, specifically command and control, intelligence and fires support, the ISF was able to defeat the Mahdi army in Basra. Sadr opened a second front in Baghdad by ordering elements in Sadr City to begin a rocket campaign against the Green Zone. After many tense days, U.S. forces, assisted by the Iraqis, defeated this threat as well. 92 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 SOl applicants wait to register in Diwaniyah |×| ） |- ſae） © UO |- © Caeſ \，_， cae © ） |- | || © ） © |- § Members of SOI congratulated during the establishment of a new checkpoint for the group in the Rashid district of Baghdad. 96 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003. OPERATION NEW DAWs On Aug. 19, 2008, William F. “Buck" Kernan, retired general serving as senior mentor to the MNC- commander, arrived in Iraq for a five-day visit. The purpose of the visit was to advise on the way ahead for the 2009 operational environment as well as preparing the command for future transitions such as the arrival of I Corps and MNF-I and MNC-I headquarters command and control transformation. (-r) U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Gen. David H. Petraeus and Gen. Raymond T. Odierno talk prior to the Multi-National Force - Iraq change of command on Camp Victory, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2008. 102 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Multi-National Force - West hands over control of Al Anbar Province to the Iraqis on Sept. 1, 2008. Al Anbar, the largest of Iraq's 18 provinces, was the 11th one to switch from coalition to Iraqi control. / Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, commanding general, MNF-W, and Gov. Ma'amoon Sami Rashim Alawi, of al-Anbar, sign the formal agreement turning security responsibilities of al-Anbar province to the government of Iraq, at the ceremony in Ramadi. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 2008 W 2. In October 2008, control of the 54,000 Sons of Iraq fighters in districts throughout the Baghdad region were nominally handed over to the government of Iraq by the coalition. Rusafa 104 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 OPERATION New Dºw's 2011 - - On Nov. 4, 20 Obama was elected president of the U Multi-National Division - North held the last graduation ceremony of the Regional Training Center at Foward Operating Base Grizzly as a coalition base on Nov. 6, 2008. The ceremony also marked the | transition of authority from coalition forces control to Iraqi control. During its run under coalition control, y the center held seven graduation ceremonies with more than 3,000 graduates including 53 women. º º º º º º ------- OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 10S Multi-National Division - North East The Republic of Korea was the third largest contributor of forces to the coalition, and was instrumental in strengthening the overall security OBE: . Nº AFE environment in the Irbil Province. They largely focused on combined |- security operations with the Iraqi army, reconstruction support, regional transitional government support, training and equipping the Iraqi security forces and police, main and alternate supply route security, and force protection support for the Irbil airport. 106 OPERATION | RAO ºn FEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 2008, * North East Multi-National Division - was disestablished and on Nov. 8 its area was absorbed by Multi-National Division - North. ſ. ||-| |- |× （ ） · №ſſºſ } |- . CDFRATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 107 | - * ALBANIA N ---TROOPS: 240 | ºº: Deployed. º April 2003 | DEPARTED: N December 2008 - TE || LATVLA TROOPS: 136 DEPLOYED: May 2003 DEPARTED: November 2008 CZECH REPUBLIC º TROOPS: 300 DEPLOYED: * | December 2003 "I DEPARTED: December 2008 \º ºr AC - ºr. * T º | º UKRAINE TROOPS: 1650 DEPLOYED: - - August 2003 TROOPS: 485 DEPARTED: ſº - DEPLOYED: December 2008 - . May 2003 DEPARTED: T- December 2008. - - - - 108 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 GEORGIA TROOPS: 2OOO DEPLOYED: August 2003 DEPARTED: August 2008 ARMENLA TROOPS: 46 DEPLOYED: January 2005 DEPARTED: December 2008 EFTEF - | ". º KAZAKHSTAN TROOPS: 29 DEPLOYED: September 2003 DEPARTED: October 2008 AZERBAIJAN TROOPS: 250 DEPLOYED: |August 2003 |DEPARTED: |December 2008 sº OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 109 BOSNLA and HERZEGOVINA TROOPS: 85 DEPLOYED: June 2003 DEPARTED: November 2008 MONGOLLA TROOPS: 18O DEPLOYED: August 2003 DEPARTED: September 2008 POLAND TROOPS: 25oo DEPLOYED: March 2003 || DEPARTED: ſº October 2008 || - MOLDOVA TROOPS: 24 DEPLOYED: September 2003 DEPARTED: December 2008 110 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 SINGAPORE TROOPS: 175 DEPLOYED: December 2003 DEPARTED: December 2008 MACEDONIA TROOPS: 77 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: November 2008 LITHUANLA TROOPS: 120 DEPLOYED: June 2003 DEPARTED: August 2008 TONGA TROOPS: 100 DEPLOYED: June 2004 DEPARTED: December 2008 SOUTH KOREA TROOPS: 3600 DEPLOYED: May 2003 DEPARTED: * December 2008 OPERATION | RAQI R1 || ON 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 111 Flags of Iraq 2008 — Present On Jan. 21, 2008, a new flag was confirmed by the Iraqi parliament. In this current version, the three stars were removed, while the Takbir was left written in green Kufic script. This is currently the flag representing the Republic of Iraq. 2004 – 2008 From June 28, 2004 until 2008, a new flag was similar to the one adopted in 1991, but the text was changed from Hussein's alleged handwriting to traditional stylized Kufic script. 1991 – 2004 On Jan. 13, 1991, the flag was changed again when Saddam Hussein decreed to place the Takbir (the words Allaahu Akbar or God is Great) between the stars. The text was reportedly in Hussein's own handwriting. 1963 – 1991 The green stars were originally placed there for the proposed, but never-consummated union of Iraq with Egypt and Syria (United Arab Republic). In 1986, the meaning of the three stars was officially changed to be a representation of the three tenets of the Ba'ath party motto, Wahda, Hurriyah, Ishtirakiyah (Unity, Freedom, Socialism).This flag was used under Saddam Hussein's rule. 112 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Jan. 1, 2009 - The Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities During Their Temporary Presence in Iraq, more commonly known as the Security Agreement, went into effect. It established Dec. 31, 2011 as the final withdrawal date for all U.S. combat forces from Iraq. It also outlined the working relationship between U.S. and Iraqi forces, and provided guidance for the legal handling of prisoners, U.S. civilian contractors working for U.S. forces, and U.S. forces while off-duty and off-base. The Iraqi government also approved a Strategic Framework Agreement with the U.S. aimed at ensuring international cooperation including minority ethnicity, gender, and belief interests and other constitutional rights; threat deterrence; exchange students; education; and cooperation in the areas of energy development, environmental hygiene, health care, information technology, communications, and law enforcement. The coalition handed over control of the Green Zone (also known as the International Zone or “IZ”) and Saddam Hussein's presidential palace to Iraqi authorities. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he will propose January 1 be declared a national holiday to commemorate what he called “Sovereignty Day” — the day Iraq took the lead in security away from U.S. forces, regained control of its airspace and reclaimed a wide swath of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. Staff Gen. Emmad Yassir Saed Salman Al-Zuhiri, Baghdad Brigade Commander, left, shakes hands with Col. Steven Ferrari, Joint Area Support Group - Central commander, during the ceremony to mark the turnover of security for Baghdad's IZ to Iraqis. Jan. 5, 2009 At the dedication of the new $700 million United States embassy in Baghdad, U.S. Marines raise the American flag over the 21 adobe- colored buildings, which sits on a 104-acre site and has space for 1,000 employees. At more than 10 times the size of any other, it the largest American embassy in the world. On Jan. 5, 2009, Vice President-elect Joe Biden met with Prime Minister al-Maliki. The focus of the talks centered on President-elect Barack Obama's commitment to withdrawing American troops from Iraq in a manner that does not risk recent security gains. Jan. 17, 2009 - Of the candidates running council seats in the upcoming provincial elections, the government of Iraq's election commission said it was investigating allegations that nearly 60 candidates had submitted fraudulent certificates for their educational degrees. Commission chief Faraj al-Haidari said his commission would like the Ministries of Education and Higher Education to verify their degrees. Thirty candidates were disqualified for submitting forged documents, being former Ba'athists, or being members of the security forces. On Jan. 26, 2009, the government of Iraq's Ministry of Interior graduated a class of 490 women to join the ranks of Iraq's police officers. It was the first and largest fully female class to graduate since the fledgling force was built. Iraq held the first nationwide elections in more than three years on Jan. 31, 2009. More than 14,400 candidates, approximately 3,900 of them women, competed for 444 seats on ruling councils in 14 of the country's 18 provinces. The candidates came from over 400 parties - 75% of which were newly formed. º - - - --- - - - - - º - - - - - Iraqi citizens show up at the polling station to vote in the elections in Samarra, raq. - - ------- -- - 116 OPERATION | RAOI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 Iraqi Official Election Results - - Tº On Feb. 19, 2009, 2–~~~~) * the finairesiſts of the E. --- elections showed that ------ Prime Minister al- Front Maliki's State of Law coalition won Basra and Baghdad and came * | first in every Shiite- — dominated governorate except Karbala (where the independent Yusuf al-Hububi won). The party won eight seats, the most of any party, in the somewhat mixed- sect Babil Province. The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq suffered losses across the country. From a position Al-Qadisiyyah of dominance in most governorates south of Baghdad, it fell to a status of a 10 percent party or less in most places. Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commis- sion estimated voter turnout at 51 percent. * su 1-y-niyyah ---- An-Naja ------ a-a-1a Kuwa IT A blanket ban on media coverage of returning military members killed in war was put in place in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. The ruling became a political issue in 2004 when unauthorized photos of caskets appeared on the internet. In February 2009, the Obama administration lifted the 18-year ban and allowed families of the fallen the right to decide whether the news media could photograph the flag-covered caskets. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - 117 Multi-National Division - South : º º º º & -> On June 1, 2008, the 3rd Infantry Division transferred authority for Multi-National Division - Center to the 10th Mountain Division. On March 31, 2009, the areas south of Baghdad, previously organized into MND-Center, and MND -South East, commanded by the British military, were merged into MND-South with 10th Mountain Division as the command element. In May 2009, 34th Infantry Division ‘Red Bulls' assumed command and control of MND-S, also known as Task Force Mountain. They assisted Iraqi security forces with security and stability missions in the area South of Baghdad ranging from Najaf to Wasit provinces extending to Basra. MND-South became United States Division – South in January 2010, when Multi-National Force – Iraq transitioned into United States Forces – Iraq. OPERATION | RAOI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 11C) Operation --- - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - -- --- - - - - - - º: Helping wounded warriors tº --- - - - find closure since June 2009 - - - - - º - - - - -- - - Iraqi Assistance Group The IAG was a U.S. military command under Multi-National Corps - Iraq that coordinated military transition teams assigned to the Iraqi security forces including the Iraqi army, federal police, Department of Border Enforcement, Ports of Entry Directorate and provincial police. These teams provide partnership, mentoring and training to assist their ISF partners in achieving full operational effectiveness and facilitating the transition of internal security to Iraqi control. The IAG was a joint command formed from the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division and was composed mostly of Soldiers. It also included a sizable contingent of Sailors, Airmen, Marines and members of foreign militaries. The IAG and the transition teams it supported, played a pivotal role in the success of the coalition strategy ſ |\ in Iraq which has made possible the planned redeployment of all U.S. forces in Iraq in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement. As the security situation in Iraq improved along with the capabilities of the ISF, the primary focus of coalition forces shifted from combat operations to partnership and mentoring. As a result, on June 3, 2009, the Iraqi Assistance Group cased its colors; its functions and personnel were merged into MNC-I. Members of the Iraq Assistance Group and Multi-National Corps - Iraq render the final salute to the IAG colors during the casing of the colors and patch ceremony held at the Joint Visitors Bureau, Camp Victory. 126 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 º ſ: - Operºr Rºoſ FREEDOM 2003. OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 200 vº. 127 "Out of |º Cities A U.S. Army officer and an Iraqi officer, hug after lowering the front gate of the Old States Building in Basra, indicating the return of control of the facility and Combat Outpost Perry, two key bases, to the raci army, June 28, 2009. -- As a signal of the U.S.'s diminishing role in Iraq, and in compliance with the Security Agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Iraqi cities (including Baghdad) on June 30, 2009. The responsibility of securing the cities was transferred to Iraq security forces. The embedding of U.S. troops continued. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki proclaims June 30 as “National Sovereignty Day” and declares it a public holiday. An honor guard presents arms during a ceremony for Iraq's National Sovereignty Day, at a defunct sugar factory near Majaar ALKabir in the Maysan province, Iraqi soldiers now occupy the base * U.S. Soldiers ºf - - * = - - 128 " "- OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 July 4, 20 oo Vice President Joe Biden met with U.S. and Iraq leaders to oversee the implementation of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement. During the July 22, 2009 meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Barack Obama noted that substantial progress had been made since Maliki's first visit to Washington in 2006. This meeting came three weeks after all U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi cities, and transferred power to Iraq's security forces. Obama also praised the sacrifices of both Iraqis and Americans on behalf of a better future, and thanked the troops for doing an outstanding job. He reaffirmed that he is working to end the war, and will have all American troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. On Sept. 17, 2009, Camp Bucca Theater Internment Facility closed down its detainee operations. The facility, once the U.S. military's largest ºf detention facility in Iraq, was located in the vicinity of Umm Qasr. Its º, closure left only two U.S.-run detention centers in Iraq: Camp Taji, º where detainees from Bucca were transferred, and Camp Cropper, near the Baghdad International Airport. - º -> º N | OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 _ 129 Bºº – ESTONLA * TROOPS: 4o ºf ºl - June 2005 | DEPARTED: ºr January 2009 | | º … |-- wº- | ROMANLA TROOPS: 730 DEPLOYED: July 2003 DEPARTED: July 2009 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 131 United States Forces - Iraq (USF-I) On Jan. 1, 2010, the three major commands (Multi-National Force – Iraq, Multi-National Corps – Iraq and Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq) merged to become United States Forces – Iraq. Under this new unified command, the total number of staff positions was reduced. In accordance with the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement, the Iraqi government took on full responsibility, through its security ministries, for maintaining and providing security and rule of law for its people. The withdrawal of all non-US forces in Iraq was complete by July 31, 2009. A change in the mission for the remaining U.S. forces in Iraq - from combat operations to a purely advise, train and assist role - was initiated with a completion date of Sept. 1, 2010. This shift in focus was accompanied by planned major troop reductions. The plan was to take the military population from 115,000 to zero between Dec. 15, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2011. The new USF-I was organized into three divisions: United States Division - North was responsible for seven provinces: Dahuk, Ninewa, Irbil, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, Solahad Din and Dyala. USD-Center, operating out of Victory Base Complex, was responsible for Baghdad and Al Anbar provinces. USD- South assisted Iraqi security forces with security and stability missions in nine provinces South of Baghdad: Najaf, Wasit, Basrah, Karbala, Babil, Qadisiyah, Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna. FERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 133 British Lt. Gen. Chris Brown, MNF-I deputy commanding general and Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, MNF-W commanding general. - º On March 15, 2010, Maj. Gen. David E. Quantock, deputy commanding general for detainee Operations, USF-I, and Dara Nour al-Deen, minister of justice director general, sign the Ceremonial certificate symbolizing the transfer of the Taji Theater º º º Iraqi SOF soldiers are posted and ready to engage enemy during a hostage rescue operation exercise March 24, 2010 - Iraqi special operations forces captured four major al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and killed three others. Those detained included the Islamic State of Iraq Minister of Oil and his deputy, the Oil Extortion Emir, and the brother-in-law of Abu Umar al Baghdadi – Islamic State of Iraq Emir. The Detainee Affairs Emir, the Northern Iraq Economic Security Emir and the Wali of Mosul were killed. An ISOF soldier carries his comrade during a simulated "down-soldier" drill during an º SOF Convoy Security Course graduation. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 137 April 12-25, 2010 U.S. and Iraqi forces killed or captured a dozen key al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders, while the Iraqi Office of Security and Information had captured another 10, including five emirs and a minister of information. At the end of April 2010, senior Iraqi and American officials stated that over the past three months, 32 of the 42 highest-ranking al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders had been captured or killed. On May 6, 2010, an the Iraqi Minister of the Interior Jawad al-Bulani, Kurdish Regional Guard Interior Minister Karim Sinjari, and Lt. Gen. Michael Barbero, USF-I deputy commanding general for advising and training, signed an agreement recognizing Kurdish Zerevani police forces as agents of the Iraqi government responsible for security in the Kurdish region. This allowed USF-I to legally provide equipment, training and related assistance to the Zerevani as a first step in integrating them into the Iraqi federal police. Cºllege Graduationinh - - º C E- C - - At the Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory in Baghdad, 79 deployed service members became the first to participate in a U.S. college graduation ceremony in Iraq, May 17, 2010. The students represented 21 different schools and various degrees. Iraq's New Council of Representatives Iraq's new parliament was seated and began its first session on June 14, 2010. The national elections were held March 7; on June 1, the Federal Supreme Court certified the results. After swearing in the new members, the session is adjourned to allow more time for negotiations over the formation of the government. Months later, on Nov. 11, an agreement was reached - Talabani would continue as president, Al-Maliki would stay on as prime minister and Allawi would head a new security council. OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - 139 On July 15, 2010, Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility, the last major U.S. run detention facility in Iraq, was officially transferred to the government of Iraq. At the time, it housed approximately 1,500 detainees being held on GoI arrest warrants, detention orders or convictions. U.S. forces had used the facility, which could hold up to 4,000 prisoners, for the care and custody of detainees since April 2003. The Cropper facility was the third and final major detention facility to be transferred from U.S. to Iraqi control or closed. AU.S. Soldier, assigned to the immediate reaction force at the CropperTº advises his Iraqi counterpart on propº- perimeter checks during action plan dri - On Aug, 10, 2010, the first 11 of 140 M1A1 Learning to drive as part of an armored column was Abrams tanks, earmarked for the Besmaya one of the many skills the soldiers of the Iraqi army Combat Training Center, arrived at the port of 9th Mech. Div. were taught during the M1A1 Operators of New Equipment Training Course at Besmaya Çombat Training Center. - tº . Umm Qasr, Iraq. The tanks would become the backbone of Iraq's 9th Mechanized Division. Iraqi soldiers with the 9th Mech. Div. run to formation during an M1A1 demonstration at Camp Iraqi Hero. 140 OPERATION | RAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 J - · |- ber 2 Stern Modeled after the U.S. Air Force Academy, the new Iraqi Air Force College at Tikrit Air Base took in its first class of 157 cadets, Sept. 1, 2010. They started a 3-year program that lays the foundation for the future of self-sufficient air power in Iraq with studies in airmanship, English, avionics, and the theory of aviation. The college had been training air force officers since 1972 but had completely shut down by the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battle of the Palms took place in Diyala Province, northeast of Baghdad, against at most 25 fighters dug into a palm orchard Sept. 11-13, 2010. The fighters were responsible for planting improvised explosive devices in the area. The fight escaplated into a three-day battle leaving 111 Iraqi soldiers dead and 22 wounded. On the third day, Iraqi forces called for help from an U.S. Army brigade that sent special forces roops, Apache attack helicopters, as well as U.S. Air Force fighters jets, which dropped two 500-pound bombs. Iraqi soldiers moved in on the morning of Sept. 13 and arrested more than 50 people. Iraqi sailors man the decks of one of the Iraqi navy's newly-christened Swift-class patrol boats at the port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq Sept. 26, 2011. The patrol boats are used to secure the vital waterways Iraq uses to transport oil, a significant revenue source for the nation. - - - - — Fifty-eight Iraqi Christians died and 98 were wounded inside a church in downtown Baghdad that was attacked by al-Qaeda in Iraq Oct. 31, 2010. The persecution against Iraqi Christians still occurs at the hands of terrorist groups. The Obama administration praised the Iraqi government for its handling of the investigation, although many critics disagreed, claiming the Iraqi government failed to protect Christians from attacks across Iraq. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 145 The whistle-blowing website, Wikileaks, published 250,000 classified diplomatic cables Nov. 28, 2010. The majority of the cables had been written in Iraq between 2005-2010. Over the course of the next year, the site would continue to publish documents that contained information which could place those mentioned in the reports in danger. On Dec 21, 2010, the Iraqi Council of Representatives approved Prime Minister-designate Maliki's slate of cabinet ministers, completing the government formation process almost 10 months after the March 7 election. Several key ministries, including defense, interior, and the minister of state/national security advisor were not named at the time. --- Iraqi army soldiers and Kurdish Peshmerga security forces inspect a vehicle at a combined security checkpoint in Diyala Province, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2011. Iraqi soldiers, Peshmerga and U.S. forces work together at combined checkpoints in northern Iraq to ensure security in the region and show solidarity between Peshmerga and IA forces. Prime Minister Maliki ordered the Iraqi army to replace the Iraqi oil police in protecting the Baiji oil refinery. This move was in response to the Feb.26, 2011 attack that destroyed key units and crippled the refinery. 146 - OPFRATION | RAOI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 May 18, 2011 - The Ministry of Electricity announced that it had contracted for 25 power stations with the Korean STX Corporation. The stations, which will run from Basra to the south of Baghdad, will each generate 100 megawatts. May 22, 2011 - When British military forces ended their hands-on mission in Iraq, 81 Royal Navy sailors turned over the task of patroling the waters of Umm Qasr to the Iraqi navy and marine corps. Sº Lº 21 NS UNITED KINGDOM TROOPS: 46,000 DEPLOYED: March 2003 DEPARTED: May 2011 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 - LIOºu. 149 On June 2, 2011, Iraq security forces raided the Trade Bank of Iraq, the country's premiere financial instituion, in what the government of Iraq stated was a move against corruption. The bank's director, Hussein al-Uzri, fled to Lebanon. Uzri is the nephew of controversial Iraqi politician, Ahmed Chalabi. Staff Sgt. Dan Leclerc, assigned to the Babil Provincial Recontruction Team, hands out toys to local children at the villiage of Al Shurtaa, in Babil Province June 11, 2011. Provincial Reconstruction Teams were first established in Iraqin 2007 and ended 2011 during Operation New Dawn. The purpose of PRTs was to build civil capacity and empower local governments to govern their constituents more effectively. Each team was led by a civilian, who reported to the U.S. Department of State, and a deputy team leader who was a military officer, with functional areas that include: rule of law, reconstruction and development, agriculture, and governance. On June 21, 2011, in a unanimous vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Leon Panetta as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense and he assumed the office on July 1. 150 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 - OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 | 1st Lt. Jon Chandler, executive officer, Company D, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division - Center and Iraqi army Col. Hussien (far right), division supply officer, 17th Iraqi Army Division, go over a list of property, while conducting a joint inventory at Joint Security Station Deason Sept. 22, 2011. President Barack Obama announced Oct. 21, 2011, that the United States would not extend its troop presence in Iraq past the Dec. 31, 2011 deadline, thus honoring the commitment agreed upon in the Security Agreement of 2008. On Oct. 22, 2011, leaders from the U.S. Division - North transitioned the trilateral combined checkpoints manned by U.S., Iraqi and Peshmerga forces across Ninewa, Tamin and Diyala provinces to a bilateral checkpoint manned only by Iraqi and Peshmerga forces. As a result of this important transition, Iraq's security grew in areas of effectiveness and capability, establishing a foundation for successful security missions and increased stability for the country's citizens. An F-16 takes off from the runway at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2011. The 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, from Tulsa, Okla., arrived in Iraq mid-September to provide close air support for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of Iraq as part of U.S. reposturization efforts. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 153 - º - º Gen. Lloyd J. Austin, Ill, commander, United States Forces - Iraq and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Allen, his senior enlisted advisor, case the USF-1 flag during a ceremony marking the end of Operation New Dawn, at Sather Air Base Dec. 15, 2011. The last remaining U.S. military forces in Iraq depart across the border into Kuwait Dec. 18, 2011. OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2003 – OPERATION NEW DAWN 2011 | |U|| 15: § ---